Fenner Nature Center's $400K project to enhance event offerings

The Fenner Nature Center has plans to build a 2,500-square-foot building by next year to house annual events like its popular apple butter and maple syrup festivals. The building is also expected to host educational programs for children.(Photo: Robert Killips | Lansing State Journal)Buy Photo

LANSING - A nature center in southeast Lansing has plans to construct a 2,500-square-foot building for educational programs and special events within the next year.

The Fenner Nature Center, 2020 E. Mount Hope Ave., intends to build its new facility about 100 feet east of its visitors center in an area known as its Fenner Prairie.

Once the new community pavilion is built, Fenner will no longer have to rely on temporary space, including tents, to host events like its annual apple butter and maple syrup festivals.

"We really wanted to have people feel like this nature center is their community nature center and this (new) building is their community space," said Alexa Seeger, Fenner's development and events manager.

About $300,000 has already been raised for the pavilion through private donations and corporate sponsors, Seeger said. Fenner seeks an additional $100,000 so construction can start by the end of this fall.

Fenner Nature Center has plans to build a community pavilion within the next year. About $300,000 has already been raised for the project.(Photo: Fenner Nature Center)

Seeger said the center's goal is to have the building open by July 2019.

Fenner seeks $50,000 in donations through its Patronicity online fundraising website. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has agreed to provide a matching grant, Seeger said.

Liz Roxberry, Fenner's executive director, said in a video posted Friday on the nature center's Facebook page that a new building is needed because the center attracts over 60,000 visitors annually.

"What we've come to find over the last several years is that's a lot of people for a very small space," Roxberry said.

Roxberry emphasized in the video the center, with its new pavilion, will "offer opportunities we have never seen before."

The nature center is operated by the Fenner Conservancy, a non-profit organization, and encompasses 134 acres of publicly accessible space south of East Mount Hope Ave. and east of North Aurelius Road. The city of Lansing owns the land; the conservancy has a contract with the city to manage the property.

Fenner's grounds contain more than 4 miles of trails and ponds that are home to reptiles, birds, deer and wild turkeys.

For information about the center and its fundraising campaign for the pavilion, visit mynaturecenter.org or call 517-483-4224.

Eric Lacy is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at 517-377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLacy.